Morgan Monet: Licensed Therapist
Education and career background:
Bachelor of Arts in Family and Human Development
Southern Virginia University, 2019
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
Brigham Young University, 2021
Five+ years and 2,000+ hours of clinical experience as a mental health therapist for low-income, at-risk, and queer folks. I view people as inherently capable, resilient, and good, and enjoy helping them see how they make sense in their context and to use that self-compassion as a springboard for growth and progress.
How I help/theoretical framework:
Narrative exploration (in other words, story-telling) is a major aspect of how I help people get to where they want to go. By more deeply understanding the way that our past experiences and interpretations of those experiences impact us and our perceived abilities today, we are able to challenge limiting beliefs and re-construct our life story in a way that brings joy, growth, and fulfillment. I love to work with my clients on identifying and practicing strategies for challenging harmful narratives in the moment and overall creating a more empowering story.
I am a trauma-informed therapist who uses evidence-based practices (ACT and DBT primarily) to invite observable change and progress. By maintaining a strengths-based approach and guiding clients towards mindfulness and self-compassion, folks are able to share and approach their stories in a new, more grounded way.
A large part of my worldview and therapeutic approach has to do with accepting our humanness; attending to our fundamental human needs is crucial for our wellness and development, but severely undervalued and neglected societally. We live in a fast-moving, ever-changing, and demanding world, and I believe people need to give themselves permission to slow down and find ways to prioritize taking care of their human needs first and foremost. Just because technology and the world have changed, does not mean our fundamental needs as humans have. We all need intentional time to be in the moment, and to decide for ourselves the role we want screens and technology to play in our lives (and then hold our own boundaries). We are all human, and when we allow ourselves to explore the world freely and openly, without harsh or prescribed expectations, we are able to cope better, feel better, maintain hope in our abilities, and create a life we want to live. And ultimately, by recognizing our humanity, we are better able to see what connects us all and how we, and every other human, belong.
My publication:
While working towards my therapy degree, I had the privilege of studying the experiences of transgender Mormons through face-to-face interviews and data analysis. I focused on the sample of folks who had chosen to stay in the LDS religion in my analysis and writing because, as an ex-Mormon myself, I felt it was important to push myself to learn about the side of the story that was less immediately understood by me from a lens of curiosity.
Click here to see the full publication:
Mo Monet: The Human
My background:
I am located in Salt Lake City, UT and have resided in Utah for the last six years; the beauty I get to behold here does not go unappreciated by me, and I have come to really love living in such a majestic place. At the same time, I consider myself an east coaster at heart— I was raised in Milford, New Hampshire and my New England upbringing will always be a major part of my story.
I had the unique experience of growing up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints in a place where strict religiosity was not a part of the predominant culture (picture a bubbly “Mormon” weirdo from a big and— said lovingly— strange family in small town New England). As a young adult, leaving the religion I was raised devoutly in from the day I was born taught me a lot about myself, culture, and the world, and it became my mission to openly and loudly accept and support others, no matter how different they were from me. I understand the difficulty of feeling inauthentic or incongruent about aligning with the expectations or assumptions of one’s assigned culture, and feel that it is important to give every human the opportunity to ask themselves what they believe and what feels good, moral, and fulfilling to them, and to show them that they are lovable for being who they are.
I consider myself a queer woman (she/her, but any pronouns will do, really!) and I have a deep love, respect, and admiration for the LGBTQIA+ community.
I am an optimistic and upbeat person who sees the good in others and wants them to see it, too. I believe that everyone makes sense when you understand their story, and I have the ability to accept and embrace people as they are while also being willing to challenge them because I believe they are resilient and capable of growth and change. I care about the well-being of our society at-large, and specifically about creating space in it for those who feel ostracized or criticized for harmlessly being who they are. I am a person who stands for what I feel is right and who will always do my best to advocate for and support those who need it, especially when they feel they are too much, not enough, or unnoticed.
Hobbies and interests:
I enjoy and crave spending time connecting with nature and soaking up the sun in any way I can. I am an adventurer through and through and love having fun and exploring the world around me. I’ve learned that life is creation and I don’t need to take things too seriously— we’re here to experience and to feel and enjoy.
Movement helps me get in touch with my humanness and to feel calm and grounded. I love to swim, mountain bike, roller skate, hike, lift weights, rock climb, and dance (especially ecstatically— iykyk). I have completed three triathlons alongside my awesome parents.
Creativity and appreciation for color/sparkle/all things vibrant and eye-catching are a huge part of my joy in this world! I love observing and creating art of all kinds, including nail art (a meticulous but therapeutic process), baking, making “random stuff” and “wearing art” through fashion and makeup.
I love to read books about philosophy and the human experience, and learning about the brain, wellness, and healing. I’m also unashamedly into all things twisty/dark/fantastical/trippy— specifically, in recent years I have come to really enjoy anime (Attack on Titan is my favorite), am recently converted to the genius works of Brandon Sanderson, and will forever be a Twilight nerd.
I am the second oldest of six kids in my big “mixed Mormon” family, and feel honored to be called sibling, daughter, aunt, and friend by such kind, fun, cool, loving, and intelligent weirdos. :) While it hasn’t always been easy, we have found ways to see and accept each other as we are. and have grown closer together and experienced a lot of co-created healing as a result.
I am grateful to have the presence of/charge over two sassy, loving, and beautiful cats, Moon and Freddie Mercury. Having animals around helps me feel connected to nature and attuned to the needs of other creatures, and reminds me to do my best to treat all living things with respect, gentleness and care.
